Dalmiya to be accorded state honours: Mamata

Kolkata, Sep 20 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday condoled the death of BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya, and said the veteran cricket administrator will be accorded state honours.

The 75-year-old president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), passed away around 9 p.m. in the city’s B.M. Birla Hospital where he was admitted on Thursday after complaining of chest pain.

Dalmiya’s funeral will take place on Monday at the Keoratala crematorium.

“Dalmiya’s contribution to cricket cannot be described in words. It is really shocking to realise that he is no more. I had talked to his family members when he was hospitalised on Thursday. They told me he was doing fine,” Banerjee, who rushed to the hospital immediately, told media persons.

“He was like a victorious king who fought valiantly in the field of cricket administration and today he left us but remained undefeated. He had so many dreams about world cup cricket. We will try to fulfil those dreams,” she said as a host of former cricketers and officials of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) rushed to pay their last respects.

“He was an asset… we are all proud of him. We will give him state honours,” said the chief minister.